Tour de Suisse 2015 Stage 4: Matthews outsprints Sagan

Stage 4 in the Tour de Suisse offers one 2nd category col, three 4th category climbs and a slightly uphill arrival. Orica GreenEge powers upfront, not only reeling in the escapees rather early but dropping sprinters such as Cavendish and Kristoff to make way for a strong sprint victory by Michael Matthews. The Australian outpowers Sagan. Fantastic teamwork, great finish. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 4th stage Tour de Suisse

1. Michael Matthews (aus)
2. Peter Sagan (svk) s.t.
3. Greg Van Avermaet (bel) s.t.
4. John Degenkolb (ger) s.t.
5. Jasper Stuyven (bel) s.t.
6. Daniel Moreno (spa) s.t.
7. Silvan Dillier (swi) s.t.
8. Thibaut Pinot (fra) s.t.
9. Matteo Trentin (ita) s.t.
10. Robert Gesink (nld) s.t.

GC after stage 4
1. Tom Dumoulin (nld)
2. Peter Sagan (svk) s.t.
3. Daniel Moreno (spa) + 0.08
4. Geraint Thomas (gbr) + 0.09
5. Thibaut Pinot (fra) + 0.15
6. Jakob Fuglsang (den) + 0.17
7. Steve Morabito (swi) + 0.18
8. Kristijan Durasek (cro) + + 0.21
9. Bob Jungels (lux) + 0.22
10. Simon Spilak (slo) s.t.

Race report
After the 12.8 km’s of neutralised downhill the party starts in the valley with Thomas de Gendt and Davide Malacarne attacking. Alex Howes, Stijn Devolder and Frederik Brackaert bridge the gap and the five race to a 4 minutes advantage. There it lingers for a while, but at the 2nd category climb to Wildhaus the gap is down to 2 minutes and at the closing circuit the break is caught with 50 km’s left. Orica GreenEdge is setting the pace and sprinters such as Cavendish, Kristoff and Démare are dropped.

At the first intermediate sprint leader Tom Dumoulin takes 3 bonus seconds, while Sagan takes 2 seconds at the second sprint.

It all boils down to a bunch sprint with Michael Matthews finishing off the job of his Orica teammates. The Australian powerhouse outsprints Sagan on the slighty uphill arrival.